• H. B. has very happily realized the comparison made
by Lord John Russell (in his recent speech at Plymouth), of Bishop Phillpots's inve- terate pamphleteering habits to the feline propensities displayed by the princess in the fairy tale, who had been transformed into a cat. The Bishop, in the shape of a huge cat, with fore-paws in lawn sleeves, is represented preparing to spring upon Lord John Russell, whose head peeps out of the box in which the freedom of Plysnouth was presented to him. The black gown makes the crouching form of the Bishop re- semble that of a rat more than a cat ; but the attitude and, physiognomy of the animiil are capital ; and the characteristics of the cat and the churchman are cleverly confounded. The rumour of Sir Edward Sugden becoming Law Lord Chancellor, and Lord Brougham exercising only the political functions of his office, has afforded a subject for H. B., which he has treated simply but effec- tively. The look and air of Lord Brougham, as he insinuates his plan to Ins jealous enemy, are very characteristic. The likeness, too, is capital ; but we certainly never saw the saturnine Sir Edward Sugden looking so amiable. The canny face and portly form of Sir James Scarlett are descried listening from behind the curtain,to the political overture.
H. B.'s Lit at the apathy of England, in the present ominous state of affairs on the Continent, is one of his very best efforts. John Bull is seated with folded arms and crossed legs, fast asleep, upon a barrel of gunpowder ; the Reform Bill is peeping out of his pocket ; and Russia, in the background, bears a torch which indicates his danger. We have before praised H. B.'s personation of John Bull : the spirit of the character is here admirably sustained. John seems thoroughly enjoying his snooze ; his broad moony face is relaxed, even in sleep, into a complacent smile of self-satisfaction ; and he sits completely at his ease, as if nothing short of the explosion would awake him.
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